4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl 2-cyclopropylacetate

A novel ester, 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl 2-cyclopropylacetate, was synthesised according to the following procedure: Eugenol (0.8290 g, 5.05 mmol) and cyclopropylacetic acid (0.0564 g, 5.63 mmol) were heated under reflux with acetonitrile, DMAP and EDC.HCl at ~95 °C with stirring. The reaction was monitored every 20 mins using TLC and was complete after 1 hr resulting in a clear pale-yellow liquid. After adding hexane, the mixture was washed with HCl, NaHCO3, distilled water and saturated NaCl(aq). The mixture was filtered under gravity, rinsed with hexane and dried. The solvent was removed in vacuo, affording 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl 2-cyclopropylacetate as small white crystals (0.819 g, 3.32 mmol, 66% yield).